Reports: Lakers to get Howard in four-team trade

A four-team deal that will send the disgruntled Orlando Magic center to the
Los Angeles Lakers will reportedly be processed Friday morning.

The trade will send the six-time All-Star to the Lakers, who will deal
center Andrew Bynym to the Sixers. The Denver Nuggets will deal forward Al
Harrington and guard Arron Afflalo to the Magic. Philadelphia will ship
small forward Andre Iguodala to Denver and center Nikola Vucevic and
first-round draft pick Moe Harkless to the Magic, according to the Los
Angeles Times. The Magic will send guard Jason Richardson to the 76ers.

Orlando would also receive a protected first-round pick from Los Angeles,
Denver and Philadelphia.

The newspaper reports before the deal can be finished, the NBA will have a
conference call between the general managers of the four teams. The league
must then approve of the trade.

Howard, who has been the focus of trade rumors for the past two years, would
join Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash in Los Angeles. Howard 20.6 points
and 14.5 rebounds last season and made his sixth All-Star team. An eight-year
veteran, Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He reached the
NBA Finals in 2009 and lost to the Lakers in five games.

There's no guarantee Howard will remain with the Lakers or Bynym with the
Sixers after the 2012-13 season, as both players are entering the final year
of their contracts. Howard's due $19.26 million, and Bynum $16.47 million.

Bynum, 24, averaged career-highs with 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds in 60
games last season after battling a variety of injuries throughout the first
six seasons of his career.

The 28-year-old Iguodala averaged 12.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists in
62 games for the 76ers last year.